Paul Crocetti likes to play, watch and discuss tennis. He makes an annual pilgrimage to the U.S. Open in New York. He is currently the editor of the Waltham News Tribune.
This new blog will mainly discuss the professional game, from smaller
...

Paul Crocetti likes to play, watch and discuss tennis. He makes an annual pilgrimage to the U.S. Open in New York. He is currently the editor of the Waltham News Tribune.
This new blog will mainly discuss the professional game, from smaller tournaments to the majors. Business Editor Bob Tremblay, an avid tennis fan, will also provide his thoughts. Join the conversation!

Losing the first set for the unprecedented fourth match in a row, Nadal was not able to come storming back this time against Australian teenage upstart Nick Kyrgios.

Nadal didn’t look quite as shaky in the first as in some of his other matches and played fine throughout, but Kyrgios had more firepower and a better head than Nadal’s previous opponents. While it seemed like Nadal still had the edge in those previous three matches, even after dropping the first set, against Kyrgios it was a different story. The youngster plays like he has nothing to lose. Check out this trick shot.

Nadal’s loss is, of course, Roger Federer’s gain. But even if Federer had to play Nadal in the semifinals, he might have beaten him, the way he’s been playing. Federer still hasn’t dropped serve, and that includes his fourth round match against Tommy Robredo, who beat him at the U.S. Open last year in straight sets. Different story on grass, though. Federer has been firmly in command, typically rolling through his service games in about 60 seconds, rarely facing a break point. The all-Swiss quarterfinal between Federer and Stan Wawrinka, the Australian Open champion, should be fun, but Federer’s got the edge.

Unfortunately for American tennis fans, for the first time since before the Titanic sank, there were no Americans to root for in the fourth round. John Isner faced a tough third round opponent in Feliciano Lopez, but it was a match he could have won and it’s the kind of match he needs to win at this stage. Lopez’s serve was tough, but Isner’s got perhaps the most dangerous serve in the game.

And on the ladies’ side, after the Williams sisters both fell in singles competition, they’re now out of the doubles tournament, following a scary medical episode featuring Serena. Appearing disoriented, Serena tried to play through whatever sickness she was feeling but could barely muster enough energy to get the ball over the net. Points for trying, but hopefully she’s resting comfortably now.

There was also a fourth-round stunner in the ladies singles, as Maria Sharapova exited early at the hands of Angelique Kerber of Germany. Sharapova, the reigning French Open champion, had coasted through her first three matches and was a clear favorite to win the tournament after Serena lost. But that French-Wimbledon double is tough and Kerber held her nerve well after blowing several match points to finally seal the deal.